Archive for December, 2008

Thanx to Miss Mississippi over at Dictator Princess for giving me the idea to “gank” her meme that she happened to “gank” from someone else’s meme. I should also mention that I am a newbie “ganker” so, to gank one of her favorite phrases as well “whatevs”…

5 THINGS I WAS DOING 5 YEARS AGO WHICH WAS 2004

1. Made my first attempt at hijrah to a muslim country. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to go back (permenantly this time).

2. Preggos with baby number 6. I was supposed to be trying not to conceive but I just had to have another baby. I literally BEGGED dh to knock me up. I desperately wanted another (my sixth and last). I think I was suffering from some type of post traumatic stress or something it was kinda of weird.

3. I was also in college, trying to figure out how to avoid taking an algebra class cuz I’m highly allergic to math. I wish I had just got it out of the way back then but, again whatevs.

4. I had been muslim for 10 years by then so no problems in that area alhamdulillah. I was working on Juz Amma and about to begin my love affair with the arabic language.

5. Most of 2004 was marked by my struggle to secure reliable transportation. I had a van that would not work no matter what I did to it. I changed out everything but the door handles and it still wouldn’t work. I spent about six months of that year walking every where.

5 SNACKS I LIKE

1. Ice Cream

2. Freezer Ice (you know the stuff that collects on the shelves of the freezer that looks like snow…. I know don’t ask).

3. Celery with peanut butter spread down the middle of it.

4. Ice Cream

5. Pepsi

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A (MULTI) MILLIONAIRE

1. Build me a house in a Muslim Country and pay for my children’s higher education.

2. Get a (ahem) breast reduction. Not meaning to get personal but being top heavy is a strain on the back muscles and it can be a real problem for people. I have wanted one since I was 14. I know TMI.

3. Make Hajj about three times. The first time I think I would be too in awe to appreciate the whole experience. My thought is I would walk in to the haram and fall into prostration and never get up, which would be the reason for #4 in this list. The second time I would probably be more objective and the third time would be just to solidify in my mind that I could actually make Hajj three times.

4. Pay the overstay fees on my Hajj visa and other possible legal fees incurred once it is discovered that I have lived at the kaabah well past my initial visa limit.

5. Try to pay my mother back for all her years of support and love which of course is priceless but I am sure she would appreciate a cool mil, too. Also, which should actually be a #6, help my husband open his own business which has been his dream, I think since he was born.

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

1. Illinois

2. Germany

3. Alaska

4. Louisiana

5. Yemen

5 JOBS I HAVE HAD

1. Secretary at a Muslim School.

2. File Clerk for a Major car dealership. I was literally up to my neck in files.

Last night I was struck by a heavy and disheartening thought. The Muslims have no UNITY… Think about it this for a second because you may be part of the problem. If you feel anyone of the ways listed below, you are harming the UNITY of the Ummah of Muhammad…

1. People be fakin’. I don’t have time to deal with people thinking they’re somone they are not, wannabe da’ees and Sheikhahs.

2. I just do me. I keep to myself and stay away from the fitnah and backbiting.

3. I just don’t have time. Between work, kids, homeschooling and whatever else, I don’t have time.

4. I’m not comfortable around a lot of people.

5. I have my few friends and that’s it.

The list could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture. These types of attitudes keep the muslims divided, the masajid and islamic centers in jeopardy and our own eman and good deeds at a minimum.

Allah commands us to “hold fast to the rope of Allah, all of you together and do not be divided amonst yourselves.” And we also see in the example of Prophet Muhammad that he extended himself to people and he endured the harm of the ignorant. We all must sacrifice ourselves in service to one another in order that we may collectively be successful. We have to think well of one another (husnul dhunn) and not only want good for each other but want to provide that goodness to our brothers and sisters from our own efforts, be that by giving a class at the masjid or at your home, or participating in that class so that the numbers are good, having a pleasant attitude so that the class is well received. Or volunteering to sponsor programs for the youth, or cleaning the masjid or painting and doing small repairs or just taking 10 minutes to give ear to another muslim or offering a smile or whatever our Ummah needs to help it heal and grow.

Too much distrust exists between our people. And there is too much uncertainty about who we are within our ownselves. We have a duty to learn or religion through studying the qu’ran and the sunnah and knowing what Allah expects from us and remaining firm upon that. Then we must share that knowledge and that understanding with others.

Let’s come together upon good and unify our hearts upon La illaha il’allah.

Al Marwazi said to Imam Ahmed: “How did you wake up today? So he replied: “How would one wake up, who’s Lord is demanding him to fulfill the obligations, and his Prophet is demanding him to fulfill his sunnah, and the two Angels are demanding him to to correct his actions, and his soul is urging him to follow his desires, and the devil is demanding him to commit illicit deeds and the Angel of death is waiting to take his soul, and his family is demanding to be clothed and fed!”

5:7 And call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when ye said: “We hear and we obey”: And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.

By the Grace of Allaah we have started the month of Dhul-Hijjah (the month of Hajj or Pilgrimage), in which Allaah has marked out, for both the pilgrims and the non-pilgrims, some very blessed days. So we shall mention here some of the virtues and rewardful acts that are connected to these blessed days.

DOING GOOD DEEDS IN GENERAL

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best and most virtuous days of the year. They are the days in which Allaah the Mighty and Majestic – most loves the doing of good deeds. About this the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The best days in the world are the ten days.” [1]

Imaam Ibnul-Qayyim (d.751H) – rahimahullaah – said, “Indeed, its days are the most excellent of all the days with Allaah. And it has been confirmed in Saheehul-Bukhaaree (2/382), from Ibn ’Abbaas (radiyallaahu ’anhumaa) who said, that Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said,“There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these (ten) days.” He was then asked, ‘Not even jihaad in the path of Allaah?’

So he replied, “Not even jihaad in the path of Allaah, except for a person who goes out with his self and his wealth, and comes back with nothing.” And it is these ten days that Allaah has taken an oath by in His Book, by His saying,

“By the Dawn and by the Ten Nights.” [Sooratul-Fajr 89:1-2]

This is why it is recommended to increase in making takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha illallaah) and tamheed (saying Alhamdulillaah) during these days …”[2]

The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “There are no days that are greater with Allaah, and in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days. So increase in making tasbeeh (saying Subhaanallaah), tamheed, tahleel and takbeer, during them.”[3]

FASTING THE DAY OF ’ARAFAH:

The 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day of ’Arafah, since it is on this day that the pilgrims gather at the mountain plain of ’Arafah, praying and supplicating to their Lord. It is mustahabb (highly recommended) for those who are not pilgrims to fast on this day, since the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on the day of ’Arafah, so he said, “It expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.”[4] Likewise, the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘There is no day on which Allaah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ’Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.”[5]

Imaam at-Tirmidhee (d.275H) – rahimahullaah – said, “The People of Knowledge consider it recommended to fast on the day of ’Arafah, except for those at ’Arafah.” [6]

SLAUGHTERING ON THE DAY OF AN-NAHR AND ’EEDUL-ADHAA OR THE FOLLOWING 3 DAYS:

The 9th day of Dhul-Hiijah is known as the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering), since it marks the ending of the major rites of Hajj (Pilgrimage), and commemorates the bounty and mercy of Allaah – the Most High – in that He gave His beloved Prophet Ibraaheem – ’alayhis-salaam – a ram to sacrifice in place of his firstborn son Ismaa’eel – ’alayhis-salaam. And out of the ten best days of the year, it is the day of an-Nahr which is the most excellent day of the year with Allaah.

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahullaah – said, “The most excellent day of the week is the day of Friday, by the agreement of the Scholars. And the most excellent day of the year is the day of an-Nahr. And some of them said that it is the day of ’Arafah. However, the first opinion is the correct one, since it is related in the Sunan collections that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The most excellent days with Allaah is the day of an-Nahr, then the day of al-Qarr (the day that the Muslims reside in Minaa).”[7]” [8]

The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The greatest day of the Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the Day of an-Nahr (Slaughtering).”[9]

The day of an-Nahr is also known as ’Eedul-Adhaa (the Festivity of Sacrifice) and is one of the two major festivals that Allaah has granted to this Ummah. Anas (radiyallaahu ’anhu) said, ‘The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came to al-Madeenah and the people of al-Madeenah had – since the times of jaahiliyyah (Pre-lslaamic Ignorance) – two days which they marked out for play and amusement. So the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘I came to you, and you had two days of play and amusement in the times of jaahiliyyah. But Allaah has replaced them with something better for you: The day of al-Adhaa (sacrificing) and the day of al-Fitr (ending the Fast).”[10]

The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) also said, “The day of al-Fitr, and the day of an-Nahr, and the days of at-Tashreeq (the three days after an-Nahr) are our days of ’Eed (festivity); and they are days of eating and drinking.”[11]

’Eedul-Adhaa, is a day in which the Muslims slaughter a camel, cow, sheep or goat, in commemoration of the sacrifice of Ibraaheem – ’alayis-salaam. And this sacrifice is an obligation upon all those who have the means to do so – according to the most correct opinion of the Scholars. [12] The basis of this is the Prophet’s (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “One who has the ability to sacrifice, but chooses not to do so, should not approach our place of (’Eed) Prayer.”[13] And his (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “Whosoever sacrificed before the Prayer, then let him do so again. But whosoever has not sacrificed, then let him sacrifice.”[14] So this order refers to those who have the ability to do so – and Allaah knows best.

As regards those who intends to sacrifice – normally the head of the household – then they are prohibited from cutting their hair or nails, starting from the first day of Dhul-Hijjah up until after the sacrifice. Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “When the ten days start, and one of you intends to sacrifice, then let him not cut his hair or his nails.”[15]

GLORIFYING ALLAAH WITH THE TAKBEER:

From the day of ’Arafah (the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah), up until the ’Asr Prayer on the thirteenth day, are days in which the takbeeraat (saying Allaahu Akbar) should be said. Imaam al-Khattaabee (d.456H) – rahimahullaah – said, “The wisdom behind saying the takbeeraat in these days is that in the times of jaahiliyyah (pre-lslaamic ignorance), they used to slaughter for their tawaagheet (false objects of worship). So the takbeeraat were prescribed in order to indicate that the act of slaughtering is directed to Allaah alone, and by mentioning only His – the Mighty and Majestic – Name.” [16]

Shaykhul-lslaam Ibn Taymiyyah – rahimahullaah – said, “All praise be to Allaah. The most correct saying concerning the takbeer – that which the majority of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors), and the Scholars from the Companions and Imaams were upon – is to begin making the takbeer from Fajr (dawn) on the day of ’Arafah, up until the last day of at-Tashreeq (the thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah), after every Prayer.” [17]

Ibn Abee Shaybah relates, “That ’Alee (radiyallaahu ’anhu) used to make the takbeer beginning after the Fajr Prayer on the day of ’Arafah, up until after the ’Asr Prayer on the last day of at-Tashreeq.” [18]

As regards the actual wording of the takbeeraat, then nothing authentic has been related from the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). However, certain wordings have been authentically related from a group of Companions. From them:

Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu) would say, “Allaah is great, Allaah is great. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. And Allaah is great, Allaah is great. And to Him belongs all praise. [Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Laa ilaahaa illallaah, wallaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar wa lillaahil-hamd.]” [19]

Unfortunately, many Muslims have neglected the takbeer established from our Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and have instead resorted to additions which have no basis at all.

Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr (d.856H) – rahimahullaah – said, “Indeed, additions have been invented upon this day, which have no basis at all.” [21]

And may Allaah have mercy upon the one who said,

“Every good is in following the Salaf; And every evil is in the innovations of the late-comers.”

And all praise is for Allaah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allaah extol and send the choicest blessings of peace upon our Leader, Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions, and all those who follow them.

Footnotes:[1] Saheeh: Related by al-Bazzaar (1/234). It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no. 1133).[2] Refer to Zaadul-Ma’aad (1/56).[3] Saheeh: Related by at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer (3/110/1) It was authenticated by al-Mundharee in at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (2/24).[4] Related by Muslim (no. 1162), from Aboo Qataadah (radiyallaahu ’anhu).[5] Related by Muslim (no. 1348), from ’Aa‘ishah (radiyallaahu ’anhaa).[6] Refer to Jaami’ut-Tirmidhee (3/377).[7] Saheeh: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 1765), from ’Abdullaah Ibn Qart (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Irwaa‘ul-Ghaleel (no. 2018).[8] Refer to Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (25/288).[9] Saheeh: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 1945), from Ibn ’Umar (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in al-lrwaa‘ (no. 1101).[10] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (3/103).it was authenticated by al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr in Bulooghul-Maraam (no. 398).[11] Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (no. 1945), from ’Uqbah Ibn ’Aamir (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no. 8192).[12] As explained by Ibn Taymiyyah in Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (23/162-164).[13] Hasan: Related by Ibn Maajah (no. 3123), from Aboo Hurayrah (radiyallaahu ’anhu). It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Takhreej Mushkilatul-Fiqr (no. 398).[14] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 5562) and Muslim (no. 1960), from Jundub Ibn ’Abdullaah al-Bajalee (radiyallaahu ’anhu).[15] Related by Muslim (no. 1977), from Umm Salamah (radiyallaahu ’anhaa).[16] Quoted from Fathul-Baaree (21/586).[17] Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (24/220). However, what seems more correct is not to restrict the takbeeraat to being just after every Prayer, as al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr pointed out in Fathul-Baaree (21/587).[18] Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in al-Musannaf (2/1/2). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in al-lrwaa‘ (31/125).[19] Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah with an authentic chain of narration
[20] Related by al-Bayhaqee (3/315) with an authentic chain of narration.
[21] Fathul-Baaree (2/536).